Suchitra Film Society, in association with Visual Art Workshop, turns the celluloid spotlight on art and architecture.  A curated collation of five celebrated biopics on trailblazing practitioners who gave individualistic shape and dimension to these twin art forms. 

Based on Pulitzer Prize winning book Jackson Pollock: An American Saga by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, Pollock directed and enacted by Ed Harris, provides facinating study of a neurotic, insecure, arrogant, self-absorbed artist locked in epic struggle with his own demons as also the woman who stood by him through his turbulent life.

Directed by art film-maker Didier Baussy-Oulianoff, Picasso, is a vivid, visual kaleidescopic sketch that unspools a unique and personal look at the man and his art. Providing pictorial canvas into cubism’s great master, it primarily spotlights on Picasso’s prolific compositions right from traditional, post-Impressionist still lifes and portraits. The film provides viewers variegated works of most recognised figures in 20th century art, who developed several schools and styles of painting leaving a whole body of facinating works.

Presenting life and art of one of America’s celebrated illustrator of all time, Elena Mannes’ Norman Rockwell: Painting America, sketches a warm and indelible portrait of one of America’s much accoladed artist accoladed for his depictions of American life in all warmth and humour.

With insightful commentary by art experts and historians, the film, which traces the artist’s life and career, helps enhance one’s appreciation of Rockwell’s deceptively simple work. As Steven Spielberg observes: “He dealt with every touchstone in life and made a meal out of it.... He captured us in the blink of an artistic eye.”

Two full length documentaries on legendary architect I M Pei: The First Person Singular and The Museum on the Mountain ring the colourful curtain down on the biopic series on art and architecture.

While the first focuses on Pei’s childhood, education, and experiences and life dedicated to mystery and poetry of structural geometry, the second tracks the intriguing tale of conception, design, and building of Japan’s majestic Miho Museum in the mountains near Kyoto. The disc also features a project archive with detailed photos, drawings, and descriptions of twenty I.M. Pei structures.  Screenings Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, 6.45 pm, Suchitra, Banashankari II Stage. For details call: 26711785